Like the the still lingering up in the air waste hauler issue, the City has yet to take control of the tower issue with it's most important ally its Citizens.
Construction of an 160 foot communications tower will commence at an approaching date to be determined.
With American Tower you never know.
The issue dates from 2010 and the words of then Mayor Zambrick
Who told American Tower, I am not saying no and I am not saying Yes. and I am saying . I am saying we (the City Commission of 2010) need more information. That was in July 2010 when and when that information was not forthcoming by the End of 2010. Then City Manager Cravens suggested putting the matter before the planing commission seek to approve for the minor details for City City Commission approval at a latter date
That approval came in the fall of 2016, six years later but not from the planning commission but The city commission. The Approval was unanimous. What happened in those six years to change the City Commissions need for more information to a unanimous approval a half decade later ? Nothing and everything.
The City Hired a consultant who said the the tower could be build in 80 foot configuration to meet the communications needs of the public safety department of the City. Those needs came under an official office called Clemis . When the City offered to build a tower for Clemis' needs they were told to talk to American Tower American Tower. And that was when in the words of one City Commissioner the the City realized they were being played. according to one commissioner realized they were being played.
The Dynamic going on was that
American Tower would build a tower to the moon for free if they could sell space on to other communications companies but no pint sized towers please and with that the issue went on hiatus for another half decade. All the City had to do is lease them the land on which to build.
In 2012 our City replaced it's retiring Chief of police one David Hendrickson the third ranking officer in the State's third Largest City. Last Spring Chief Hendrickson was promoted to City Manager as the highest ranking civilian Employee in the City of Bloomfield Hills. As he Chief seldom asked for anything and when he did the need usually quickly became apparent. A week after a shots fire home invasion occurred in our City arrest were made in less than a week due the membership in the multi community task force Henderson requested at Tuesday prior City Commission Meeting.
For a long time or Public Safety Department lacked an extraction tool called The Jaws of Life. It is used to get people out auto of in the case of accidents. Some of which involve fire. For a long time the City got by with a saws all cutting device available at hardware stores and big box retailers. A saws all is at it's best in cutting drywall and safety glass but not so good with steel.
So under direction of Chief Hendrickson the department took their non functioning Jaws of life apart found out why it wasn't working and replaced the needed part without all without asking the City for money.
The Jaws of Life demonstration was star attraction at last summer's Public Safety Open House last summer.
Long before he came to town City Manager Hendrickson was well versed on the City on the he would come to manage to manage. He knew of the City's disdain for gun mettle grey poles 80 stories high. So he and department went out and tested the then current communications capabilities with those a tower would provide before delivering a verdict. For 2012th and
perhaps longer the public safety department could make do with the existing equipment but those needs could change. Fair enough.
The problem is not the needs of Public Safety which is documented and determined on the Roof of Christ Church Cranbrook which is the which is highest point in the City.
The Problem is that in his hurry to leave town former CityManager Cravens left the door open to Commercial interests to come in and build towers in the City.
Those interests A Municipality can not refuse a communications tower on the on the grounds of esthetics or unproven heath hazards.
It has been said that said that said rulings came after intense lobbying efforts by commercial interests.
Never the less the FCC has also said that proposed communications Tower must meet an existing need and that the Tower will provide a solution to that need.
In otherword The FCC can't bull doze your house or or turn our community in a grave yard of 16story high poles If there are other alternatives.
At a recent City Commission meeting The man from American Tower and our new City Attorney seemed remember the
If it is any consolation to those who revel in the City's natural features The Planning Commission was much more fiesty in the raw face of Commercialism and some int than City Commission. Maybe it is because the former had to sit through " Why you can't say no to a communications Tower presentation two years prior. You can't say no for unproven heath concerns but the tower must demonstratively fill a need.
At a recent City Commission the man from American Tower and Surprisingly our new City Attorney repeatedly mentioned the part about the City's obligation to the the communications industry but forgot the part about the Communications Industry's obligation to the City.In the current issue of Hills Highlights Mayor Coakley boasts the City has improves has made significant Improvement telecommunications in the City Proving a 160 foot tower for A&T&T and three smaller antennas for Verizon.
Construction of an 160 foot communications tower will commence at an approaching date to be determined.
With American Tower you never know.
The issue dates from 2010 and the words of then Mayor Zambrick
Who told American Tower, I am not saying no and I am not saying Yes. and I am saying . I am saying we (the City Commission of 2010) need more information. That was in July 2010 when and when that information was not forthcoming by the End of 2010. Then City Manager Cravens suggested putting the matter before the planing commission seek to approve for the minor details for City City Commission approval at a latter date
That approval came in the fall of 2016, six years later but not from the planning commission but The city commission. The Approval was unanimous. What happened in those six years to change the City Commissions need for more information to a unanimous approval a half decade later ? Nothing and everything.
The City Hired a consultant who said the the tower could be build in 80 foot configuration to meet the communications needs of the public safety department of the City. Those needs came under an official office called Clemis . When the City offered to build a tower for Clemis' needs they were told to talk to American Tower American Tower. And that was when in the words of one City Commissioner the the City realized they were being played. according to one commissioner realized they were being played.
The Dynamic going on was that
American Tower would build a tower to the moon for free if they could sell space on to other communications companies but no pint sized towers please and with that the issue went on hiatus for another half decade. All the City had to do is lease them the land on which to build.
In 2012 our City replaced it's retiring Chief of police one David Hendrickson the third ranking officer in the State's third Largest City. Last Spring Chief Hendrickson was promoted to City Manager as the highest ranking civilian Employee in the City of Bloomfield Hills. As he Chief seldom asked for anything and when he did the need usually quickly became apparent. A week after a shots fire home invasion occurred in our City arrest were made in less than a week due the membership in the multi community task force Henderson requested at Tuesday prior City Commission Meeting.
For a long time or Public Safety Department lacked an extraction tool called The Jaws of Life. It is used to get people out auto of in the case of accidents. Some of which involve fire. For a long time the City got by with a saws all cutting device available at hardware stores and big box retailers. A saws all is at it's best in cutting drywall and safety glass but not so good with steel.
So under direction of Chief Hendrickson the department took their non functioning Jaws of life apart found out why it wasn't working and replaced the needed part without all without asking the City for money.
The Jaws of Life demonstration was star attraction at last summer's Public Safety Open House last summer.
Long before he came to town City Manager Hendrickson was well versed on the City on the he would come to manage to manage. He knew of the City's disdain for gun mettle grey poles 80 stories high. So he and department went out and tested the then current communications capabilities with those a tower would provide before delivering a verdict. For 2012th and
perhaps longer the public safety department could make do with the existing equipment but those needs could change. Fair enough.
The problem is not the needs of Public Safety which is documented and determined on the Roof of Christ Church Cranbrook which is the which is highest point in the City.
The Problem is that in his hurry to leave town former CityManager Cravens left the door open to Commercial interests to come in and build towers in the City.
Those interests A Municipality can not refuse a communications tower on the on the grounds of esthetics or unproven heath hazards.
It has been said that said that said rulings came after intense lobbying efforts by commercial interests.
Never the less the FCC has also said that proposed communications Tower must meet an existing need and that the Tower will provide a solution to that need.
In otherword The FCC can't bull doze your house or or turn our community in a grave yard of 16story high poles If there are other alternatives.
At a recent City Commission meeting The man from American Tower and our new City Attorney seemed remember the
If it is any consolation to those who revel in the City's natural features The Planning Commission was much more fiesty in the raw face of Commercialism and some int than City Commission. Maybe it is because the former had to sit through " Why you can't say no to a communications Tower presentation two years prior. You can't say no for unproven heath concerns but the tower must demonstratively fill a need.
At a recent City Commission the man from American Tower and Surprisingly our new City Attorney repeatedly mentioned the part about the City's obligation to the the communications industry but forgot the part about the Communications Industry's obligation to the City.In the current issue of Hills Highlights Mayor Coakley boasts the City has improves has made significant Improvement telecommunications in the City Proving a 160 foot tower for A&T&T and three smaller antennas for Verizon.
No comments:
Post a Comment